Car-truck



(NO Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. o. WANDS. GAR TRUCK.

No. 562,262. y Patented Junel, 1896.

'JIU WANDS. GAR TRUCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

APfLi'Aant-edJune 16, 1896.

mvv, L@

(No Model.)

(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet a J. G. WANDS.

GAR TRUCK,

No. 562`,262. Patented June 16, 1896.

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NrTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOIIN O. VANDS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CAR-TRUCK.

SPECIFICATIONKforming part of Letters Patent No. 562,262, dated June 16,1896.

Application led April 27, 1896. Serial No. 589,253. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN O. VANDS, of the city of St. Louis, State ofMissouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCar-Trucks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had tov the accompanying drawings, forminga part hereof.

My invention relates to an improved cartruck; and it consists in thenovel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a to p plan view of my improved car-truck.Fig. 2 is a sidek elevation of the truck shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is avertical sectional view taken approximately on the indicated line 3 3 ofFig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on theindicated line 4 4 of Fig. 3 and looking downwardly. Fig. 5 is avertical sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a verticalsectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectionalview on the. line 7 7 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is an end elevation of a castingof which I make use, and Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the same casting.Fig. 10 is a plan View of the casting of which I make use, said castingbeing shown in section under the bolster-plate in Fig. 7. Fig. 11 is aside elevation of a casting used upon each end of the cross-beams of mytruck. Fig. 12 is an end elevation of thev casting which I use upon thetop of the spring. Fig. 13 is an end elevation of the casting of which Imake use under the box of the caraxle. Fig. 14 is a vertical sectionalView taken approximately on the line 14 14 of Fig. 11. Fig. 15 shows amodied Jform of the joint bee tween the cross-beams and the side beams.

In the construction of my improved cartruck, the distinguishing featureis the employment of wrought I-beams and malleable castings. To supportthe bolster of the car, I employ two I-beams 1 and 2, arranged inparallel position transversely of the car and midway between the axlesof Athe truck. The ends of the I-beams 1 and 2 are joined tolongitudinally-extending I-beams 3 and4 in such a way that the upperedges of said beams are all approximately on the same level, lou-t Iprefer to make the'side beams 3 and 4 somewhat wider than thecross-beams 1 and 2, and this brings the lower edges of the side beamsbelow the lower edges of the cross-beamsfas shown in Fig. 3. However,the cross-beams may be of the same width as the side beams and then theywill be joined, as shown in Fig. 15, the upper and lower edges being onthe same level.

The casting 5 (shown in plan in Fig. 10 and in cross-section in Fig. 7)is placed between the cross-beams 1 and 2 and at the longitudinal centerthereof. The casting 5 is a rectangular frame consisting of theparallelsides G and the parallel ends 7 connecting said sides. In thecenter of the rectangular frame is a circular portion 8, having thevertical bore 9, and extending radially from said circular portion S tothe side pieces 6 are the arms 10, 11, 12 and 13. Extending horizontallythrough the side pieces 6 are apertures 14 and there are matingapertures in said cross-beams in which are positioned rivets 15, and bywhich said'cross-beams are secured to said casting 5.

The bolster-plate 16 is placed directly above the casting 5 and with itscentrally-located aperture 17 in vertical alinement with the verticalbore 9 of said casting 5 and is secured to the cross-beams 1 and 2 bymeans of the rivets 1S, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. In the upper face ofthe bolster-plate 1G is an annular recess 19, which recess issemicircular in cross-section, and is arranged concentric to theaperture 17 in said plate. Surrounding the recess 19 is an annular lug20. In the iianges 21 of the side beams 3 and 4 are recesses in whichare seated the ends of the cross-beams 1 and 2, as shown in Fig. 1. Thecastings 22 (shown in detail in Fig. 11) are placed against the innerfaces of the side beams 3 and 4 and approximately at the longitudinalcenter of said side beams to form seats for the ends of the cross-beams1 and '2.

The casting 22 consists of the base 23, designed to rest upon the uppersurface of the lower inner flange ofsaid side beams. Extending upwardlyin parallel position from said base are the arms 24 and 25, which areconnected at their upper ends by the bar 26a. Projecting inwardly fromsaid arms 24 and are flanges 26 and 27, designed to fit upon IOO theinner faces of the webs of said crossbeams, and the arms 24 and 25 aredesigned to fit between the ends of said webs and the webs of the sidebeams, as shown in section in Fig. 4.

Projecting upwardly from the base 23 are the pairs ot' lugs 28 and 29,between which the ends of the cross-beams are seated. Between the lugs28 and in alinement with the arm. 24 and forming the base for said armis the lug 30, which iits between the lower Hanges of the cross-beam 1and the webs of the side beams. A similar' lug 31 connects the lugs 29and forms the base for the arm 25 and is designed to iit between thelower flanges of the cross-beam 2 and the webs of the side beams.

Cast brackets 32 and 33 are inserted in the corners formed by thejunction of the crossbeams with the side beams and upon the outside ofsaid cross-beams and are secured both to the cross-beams and side beamsby means of the rivets 34 and 35. The brackets 32 and 33 are essentiallyalike, except that they are made in rights and lefts and each bracketconsists of the webs 36 and 37, joining each other at right angles. Theweb 36 is designed to iit snugly against the web of the cross-beam andthe web 37 is designed to t snugly against the web of the side beamandthe rivets 34 pass through the bracket and through the webs of saidbeams, thus holding the beams. at right angles to each other, as shownin Fig. 1.

Upon the opposite side ofthe webs 36 and 37 from the surfaces whichcontact with the webs of the beams are three strengtheningribs 38, 39,and 40. The rib 38 is in the shape of a right-angle triangle and itsuppersurface is practically on a level with the upper surfaces of thebeams. The rib 39 extends longitudinally along the center of saidbracket and its outer edge is curved inwardly, and the rib 40 extendsalong the lower edge of the bracket and longitudinally thereof and itsouter edge is curved somewhat less than is the outer edge of the rib 39.

Extending from the web 36 and at right angles thereto is a lug 41,interposed between the ribs 38 and 39, and exten ding transverselythrough the outer end of said lug is a bore 42, designed as a bearingfor the brake-beam hangers, and the object in cutting away or curvingthe outer edges of the ribs 39 and 40 is to give room for the operationof said brakebeam hangers.

Upon each end of the side beams 3 and 4 are the housings 43 and 44 inwhich operate the springs 45 and the oil-boxes 46. The housings areessentially alike and consist of the upper housing-plate 47, the lowerhousing-plate 48, the inner column 49 and the outer column 50, andthebolt 51, passing vertically through the upper housing-plate 47,

outer column 50 and the lower housing-plate 48. The upper housing-plate47 is shown in rear elevation ,in Fig. 12, in front elevation in Fig. 6,and top plan views of the same may be seen in Fig. 1 and in sideelevation in Fig. 2.

The base 52 of the housing-plate 47 rests upon the upper edge of one ofthe side beams and projects outwardly in a horizontal line over thespring. Projecting upwardly from said base 52 are a pair of ribs 53,extending the entire length of said plate, and a pair of ribs 54 arelocated intermediate of said pair of ribs 53 and are somewhat shorterthan said iirst-mentioned ribs. Upon the under face of said plate 52 anddirectly over the oil-box 46 is a spring-seat 55. Projecting downwardlyand curving inwardly from the edges of the front end of said plate arelugs 56 and 57, which ferm a dovetailed seat to receive the upperflanges of the side beams, as shown in Fig. 6. At the outer ends of thelugs 56 and 57 is a lug 58, extending transversely of the lower face ofthe plate 52 and connecting the ends of said lugs 56 and 57, thusforming a stop against which the corner of the side beam strikes when itis inserted into the doyetail heretofore described. In front of the lug58 and extending downwardly from the lower face of the plate 52 are lugs59 and 60, between which is formed a dovetailed recess 61, designed toreceive the upper end of the column 49.

The lower housingplate 48 consists of the horizontal plate 62, upon theouter end of which rests the column 50 and upon the inner end of whichrests the column 49 and over the center of which operates the oil-box46. Attached to the inner end of the plate 62 and extending upwardly atright angles to said plate inside of the column 49 is a plate 63, and tothe upper end of said plate 63 and extending inwardly at right angles tosaid plate is the plate 64, upon which plate 64 rests the lower flangeof the side beams.

Strengthening-ribs 65 extend the entire length of said housing-plate 48and project downwardly from the edges of said plates 62, 63 and 64. Atthe angle formed by the junction of the plates 63 and 64, the ribs 65assume the forni of a right-angled bracket. A pair of intermediate ribs66, and resembling the ribs 65 in every essential, are placed be tweensaid ribs 65 and said intermediate ribs terminate in the boss 67 underthe free end .of the plate 62, and said boss 67 forms a base throughwhich an aperture is made to receive the bolt 51 and against which thenuts upon the ends of said bolt operate.

Extending upwardly from the edges of the plate 62, and at the endthereof opposite the boss 67, are lugs 68 andv69, between whichis formeda dovetailed recess 70 direetlyin vertical alinement with the recess 6land designed to receive the lower end of the column 49. Projectingupwardly from the edges of the plate 64 and curving inwardly are lugs 71and 72, between which is formed an approximateA dovetailed recess 73,designed to receive the lower flanges of the side beams. Connecting theouter ends of said lugs 71 and 72 IOO IIO

, beams and the side beams.

is a lug 74, which extends upwardly in aline with the plate 63 and formsa stop directly in vertical alinement with the lug 58, against whichstop the lower corner ot the side beam strikes.

The upper end 75 of the column 49 is dovetailed to fit within the recess61 between the lugs 59 and 60 and against the lower face of the plate52, and the lower end 76 of said column 49 is dovetailed to fit withinthe recess between the lugs 68 and 69 and against the upper face of theplate 62.

The ends and 76 of the column 49 arev wedge-shaped, or taper, as shownin Fig. 9, and the recesses 61 and 70 are narrowed at their inner endsto correspond with the shape of said tapered ends of the column 49.

Extending inwardly from the upper end of the column 49 is a pair oftriangular flanges 7 7 between which the web of the side beam isinserted, and said side beams are secured in position relative to saidcolumn by means of the series of rivets 78.

The axle 79 is journaled in the oil-box 46 andsaid oil-box iits betweenthe columns 49 and 50, as shown in Fig. 4, and the springs 45 areinterposed between the oil-box 46 and the spring-seats 55, as shown inFig. 2. rlhe sides of the columns 49 and 50 which face each other are invertical parallel lines.` The outside of the column 50 is seinicircularor oval, as shown in Fig. 4.

The bolster-plate 16 is of ordinary construction, but all the othercastings of which I make use are new in design, construction andpurpose. One essential common to all the castings of' which I make useis that they be oi" a good quality of malleable iron.

The spreading frame or casting 5 which is placed between the beams l and2 to hold said beams rigidly in line with each other, is essentially ofthe construction shown. The arms 10, 11, 12, and 13 are all attached tothe side pieces 6 of said casting in order that the openings in the endsof said casting in line with the apertures 14 may be unobstructed bysaid arms, as is required to give room to hold the heads of the rivetswhile said rivets are being headed down and tightened. vIt

one of the arms supporting the circular p0r tion 8 were attached to theend piece 7, it would be difficult to get the rivets l5 into place andhold them there while they were being headed and tightened. By makingthe casting 5 of good malleable iron and of the form shown anddescribed, a very rigid connection is secured between the centers of thebeams l and 2 and in such a way that the danger of shearing the rivetsbythe weaving and twisting caused by the strain upon the beams throughthe bolster-plate is reduced to a minimum.

The casting 22 should possess all the essentials shown and described inorder to form a good joint between the ends of the crossrlhe base 23 ofsaid casting is of such a shape that it iits against the lower innerface of the web of the side beam and upon the upper face of the innerflange of' the side beam, and the upper face of said base is designed toform a seat for the heel of the cross-beam. The pairs of lugs 28 and 29hold theheels of the crossbeam from lateral motion. The arms 24 and 25are designed to fit the space between the end of the webs of thecross-beams and the side of the web of the side beams. The flanges 26and 27 attached to said arms 24 and 25 act as a spreading frame betweenthe ends of the webs of the cross-beams, and the crossbar 26 acts as abrace to stiften this spreading frame. This casting 22 should be made ofgood malleable iron, and when properly designed and properly fitted inplace bolts or rivets are unnecessary to hold said casting in position.

The brackets or corner castings 32 and 33 may be varied somewhat inshape, but should possess all the features substantially as shown anddescribed. When said brackets are placed in position with the web 36iitting closely against the sides of the webs of the crossbeams and therib 38 fitting closely under the upper outer iiange of the cross-beamand the web 37 fitting closely against the web of the side beam and therib 40 fitting upon the upper side of the outer lower flange of thecross-beams and all secured in position by the rivets 34, a verysubstantial joint is formed between the ends of the cross-beams and thesides of the side beams.

By letting the ends of the cross-beams into the recesses in the upperinner flanges of the side beams, much strain is taken o of the rivets 34and the danger of shearing said rivets is reduced to a minimum. W'henthese castings are made of good malleable iron and securely fastened inplace, they will stand any reasonable strain or shock to which they maybe subjected.

By forming the lugs 41 integral with the web 36 and between the ribs 38and 39, as shown, a very convenient and substantial bearin g is formedfor the brake-beam hangers.

The housings 43 and 44 of the oil-boxes and springs are constructedentirely of malleable iron, with the exception of the bolt 51, and it isonly necessary that the pieces of which said housing is composed areproperly fitted together to form a housing which is unsurpassed forlightness and strength.

In the construction of the casting 47 the recess between the lugs 56 and57, under the plate 52, is made small enough to form a good driving fitbetween the upper flange of the side beam and said casting. The castingis driven onto the iianges of the side beam un til the upper corner ofsaid side beam strikes the lug 58.

In the construction of the casting 48 the recess 73 between the lugs 71and 72 is of such a size as to form a good driving fit between said lugsand the lower iiange of the side beam and said casting is driven ontoIOC) IIO

IIS

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said flanges until the lower corn er strikes the lug 74. Then the column49 is inserted between the castings 47 and 4S and driven firmly intoplace against the opposite side of the lugs 5S and 74 from the sidesagainst which the side beam rests. Then the rivets 78 are inserted,connecting the flanges 77 securely to the web of the side beam. Theoil-box 46 is then placed in position upon the upper face of the plate62 and the spring 45 is compressed and inserted between the upper faceof the oileup 46 and the spring-seat 55. Then the column 50 is placed inposition between the outer ends of the castings 47 and 48, and the bolt51 is inserted through the boss in the outer end of the eastin g 47,then through the column 50, and then through the boss 67 in the outerend of the casting 4S, and said bolt is secured in position by suitablenuts.

The columns 49 and 50 are of necessity cast hollow in order that theymay be properly annealed.

A housing thus constructed is very strong and capable of sustainingalmost any strain or shock that may be inflicted upon it.

By the employment of the dovetailed connections all danger of shearingthe rivets is entirely avoided as long as said dovetailed parts stand.In actual practice at the present time I am using ten-inch I-beams forthe cross-beams and twelve-inch I-beams for the side beams and I preferthis construction; but it is obvious that other sizes and otherproportions maybe used, if found desirable,with out departing from thespirit of my invention.

In Fig. I show how cross-beams and side beams of the same dimensions maybe joined together, but I do not consider it necessary, or advisable,when two cross-beams are used to make them of the same dimensions as theside beams.

I claim- 1. In a car-truck, a pairoi:l parallel I-beams, a spreadingframe between the centers of said I-beams, spreading frames between theends of said I-beams and means of supporting the ends of said I-beams,substantially as specified.

2. In a car-truck, a pair of parallel Lbeams, a spreading frame betweenthe centers of said I-beams, a bolster-plate upon the top of saidLbeams, spreading frames between the ends of said I-beams, and means ofsupporting said I-beams, substantially as specitied.

3. In a car-truck, the cross-beams l and 2, the spreading frame 5between the centers of said cross-beams and the spreading frames 22 uponthe ends of said cross-beams, said frames 22 having the base 23supporting the heels of said cross-beams, substantially as specified.

4. In a car-truck, the spreading frame 5 consisting of the side piece G,the end pieces 7 connecting said side pieces, the circular centralportion 8 having the vertical bore 9, and the arms 10, 11, 12 and 13connecting said portion 8 to said side pieces (l, substantially asspecified.

5. In a car-truck, the spreading frame 22 consisting of the base 23designed to rest upon the lower inner flange of a side beam, the arms 24and 25 extending upwardly from said base, the cross-bar connecting theupper ends of said arms 24 and 25, the iianges 26 and 27 upon said armsand designed to engage the inner faces of the webs of the cross-beams,the pairs of lugs 28 and 29 projecting upwardly from the base 23 tolimit the lateral movement of the heels of the cross-beams, the lug 30connecting said pair of lugs 2S and the lug 31 connecting said pair oflugs 29, substantially as specified.

6. In a car-truck, a pair of parallel I-beams constituting thecross-beams of the truck, a pair of I-beams one at each end of saidcrossbeams,said last-mentioned I-beams constituting the side beams oi'the truck, and suitable connections between the ends of said crossbeamand said side beams, substantially as specified.

7. In a ear-truck, a pair of parallel I-beams constituting thecross-beam of the truck, a pair of I-beams, one at each end of saidcross-beam, said last-mentioned I-beams constituting the side beams ofthe truck, the ends of said crossbeam being let into the flanges of saidside beams, a spreading frame between the ends of the parallel I-beams,and corner brackets connecting said cross beam and said side beams,substantially as specified.

8. In a car-truck, a cross-beam made of I- beams, side beams each madeof an I-beam, and suitable connections between said cross beam and saidside beams, substantially as specified.

9. In a car-truck, a cross-beam made of two parallel I-beams, side beamseach made of an I-beain, a spreading frame at each end of the cross-beamand against the inner sides of the side beams, bosses under the heels ofsaid cross-beam and supported by said side beams, and corner bracketsconnecting said side beams to said cross-beam, substantially asspecified.

10. In a car-truck, the corner bracket consisting of the webs 36 and 37,arranged at right angles to each other, the ribs 3S, 39 and 40connecting said webs, and the lug 41 projecting from said web 3G andhaving the brakebeam -hanger bearing 42, substantially as speciiied.

11. In a car-truck, a pair of parallel I-beams forming the cross-beam ofthe truck, a spreading frame between the centers of said I-beams, a pairof I-beams, one at each end of said crossbeam, said last-mentionedIebeams forming the side, beams of the truck, bosses under the heels ofsaid cross-beam and supported by said side beams, spreading frame at theends of said parallel I-beams, and brackets connecting said side beamsto said cross-beam, substantially as specified.

12. In a car-truck, the I-beams 1 and 2, the spreading frame 5 betweenthe centers of said I-beams, the casting 22 at each end of: said IOO IIO

I-beams with the base 23 under the heels of said I-beams, the sideI-beams 3 and 4 supporting the said bases 23, and the brackets 32 and 33connecting said Lbeams 1 and 2 to said side beams 3 and 4, substantiallyas specified.

13. In a car-truck, the I-beams l and 2, the spreading frame 5 betweenthe centers of said I-beams, the casting 22 at each end of said I-beamswith the base 23 under the heels of said I-beams, the side I-beams 3 and4 supporting the said bases 23, and the brackets 32 and 33 connectingsaid I-beams 1 and 2 to said side beams 3 and 4 and the housings 43 and44 upon the ends of said side beams 3 and 4, substantially as specified.

14. In a car-truck, a housing consisting of an upper plate, lugsprojecting downwardly from the inner end of sai-d plate and forming adovetailed recess designed to receive the iianges of an Lbeam, astop-lug intersecting said firstmentioned lugs, lugs on the outer sideof said stop and forming a second dovetailed recess, a lower platehaving lugs projecting upwardly from its inner end to form a dovetailedrecess designed to receive the lower flanges of an I-beam, a stop infront of said recess, lugs proj ecting upwardly from the upper face ofsaid plate and forming a fourth dovetailed recess vertically under saidsecond recess, a column designed to fit in said second and fourthrecesses, flanges on said column designed to be attached to the oppositesides of the web of an I-beam and a second column between the outer endsof said plates,` substantially as specified.

15. In a car-truck, an I-beam and a housing upon each end of saidI-beam, each of said housings consisting of an upper plate upon the endof said Ibeam and projecting outwardly, fianges projecting downwardlyand inwardly from said plate and engaging the flanges of said I-beam, astop proj ectin g downwardly from said plate and against the end of saidI-beam, a lower plate upon the under side of said I-beam opposite saidfirst-mentioned plate and projecting outwardly from said I-beam, lugsprojecting upwardly and inwardly from said lower plate and engaging thelower flange of said I-beam, a second stop projecting upwardly from saidlower plate and engaging the end of said I-beam, lugs projectingdownwardly from said first-mentioned plate outside of saidfirst-mentioned stop and forming a dovetailed recess, lugs projectingupwardly from said lower plate and outside of said second stop andforming a second dovetailed recess in vertical alinement with thelast-mentioned recess, a column having its dovetailed ends .fitted intosaid verticallyalined recesses, iianges upon said column and engagingeither side of the web of said I-beam and securely riveted to saidI-beam, and a column between the outer ends of said upper and lowerplates, substantially as specified.

16. In a car-truck, the upper housing-plate 47 consisting of thehorizontal plate 52, the pair of outer ribs 53 extending from the uppersurface of said plate 52, a pair of intermediate ribs 54 upon the uppersurface of said plate 52, the spring-seat 55 upon the under surface ofsaid plate 52, the lugs 56 and 57 projecting downwardly from one end ofsaid plate 52 and forming a dovetailed recess designed to receive theupper flanges of the I-beam, the lug 58 projecting downwardly from theunder face of said plate 52 and forming a stop for the end of saidI-beam, and the lugs 59 and 60 projecting downwardly from the face ofsaid plate 52 outside of said lug 58 and forming the dovetailed recess61, substantially as specified.

17. In a car-truck, the lower housing-plate 48 consisting of the plate62 in a horizontal position, the plate 63 attached to said plate 62 andextending upwardly at right angles therefrom, the plate 64 extendinginwardly at right angles from said plate 63, the pair of outer ribs 65extending longitudinally of said plate 48 and on the under side thereof,the pair of intermediate ribs 66 between said outer ribs, the boss 67upon the outer end and Linder side of said plate 62, the lugs 68 and 69extending upwardly from the inner end of said plate 62 and forming thedovetailed recess 70, the lugs 71 and 72 extending upwardly from theplate 64 and forming the dovetailed recess 73, and the stop 74 extendingupwardly from the face of the plate 64 in line with the plate 62,substantially as specified.

18. In a car-truck, the housing-column 49 cast hollow and annealed andhaving the pair of ianges 77 projecting inwardly at right angles fromits upper end and having the dovetailed ends and 76, said dovetailedends being wedge-shaped in cross-section, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. VVANDS.

Witnesses:

EDWARD E. LoNGAN, S. G. WELLS.

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